Basic management for engineers. II. Disciplinary procedures

At some stage in their career, most managers have to deal with unsatisfactory behaviour from their subordinates. Disciplinary procedures can be a minefield, and even experienced human resources managers can get caught out if a case goes to an industrial tribunal. Fortunately for the average engineering manager, especially anyone not regularly involved in personnel issues, ACAS publishes guidelines for disciplinary procedures, suitable for both managers and employees. This article outlines the main features of the guidelines, and their implications for managers, whether they are HRM experts or not.